sides
He interrupted me at this point – “Are about to sell me ‘follow Jesus and your life will get better’ crap? Because I’m not buying.”
“No. I’m not selling that because it’s not accurate, it’s the exact opposite of what Jesus says. What Jesus says he’ll do is make you a better person, he’ll make you whole and complete, he’ll redeem you, ransom you, and he’ll heal you. He never says anything about our circumstances other than to expect them to be hard.
He seems to be quite pleased in making us better people as opposed to removing the pain we experience or change the circumstances we find ourselves in. He’s quite confident in his ability to change us, which I guess on one hand is a much more difficult task than merely changing circumstances.
13 responses so far ↓
1 daveb // Sep 7, 2007 at 4:52 pm
Not sure where the struggle is…looks like good excerpt to me. It seems to me that often God doesn’t change our circumstances because that’s what he is using to effect the cahnge in us (change through the circumstances). If he removed the circumstance we wouldn’t change??
2 MarkE // Sep 7, 2007 at 7:17 pm
Do you plan on saying “crap” on Sunday in front of church?
Sorry, I just had to ask!
3 kurt // Sep 7, 2007 at 8:26 pm
Sounds like something right out of Oswald Chambers…er, except the crap part!
Great perspective, one that is rarely heard in today’s “Jesus wants you to have non-stop fun” culture.
4 Grant // Sep 7, 2007 at 10:57 pm
yea…I’ll drop the crap part..he he…
not that it would matter here. Our elders say worse…Dave B - are you reading? ha ha…
5 Heath // Sep 8, 2007 at 6:44 am
I have heard Grant use the word “Crap” in church… then there is P&M… He knows what i’m talking about.
I think your excerpt there is great. No complaints here, at least. It is amazing how many people will tell you that life is going to be all a bed of roses when you start playing for God’s team. Let me tell you from personal experience that this is a huge lie. Nothing could be farther from the truth.
We can’t grow without trials, without being refined in the fire. I’ve been singed more than a few times, myself!
6 daveb // Sep 8, 2007 at 7:15 am
CRAP, he’s been listening (doh!)
7 MikeS // Sep 8, 2007 at 8:27 am
Use the excerpt. I think it brings out a myth that even believers tend to buy into. So many time I’ve heard that God is more interested in our character than in our comfort, or convenience for that matter. And it’s true.
Remember, the safest place on earth is not in the middle of God’s will. As a matter of fact it’s the most dangerous place.
Following Jesus is not about safety, comfort, or convenience. It’s about life change.
Go with it.
8 Linda // Sep 8, 2007 at 3:46 pm
A few years ago my kids when to ” Wisconsin convo” (a UMC sponsored youth convention held every fall). Each key speaker gave that crap message. My kids came home talking about how irrespnsible it was. And how disappointed some kids would be when they gave their lives to Jesus on Saturday and would get to school on Monday and there would be the same old bullies, tough teachers, and homework struggles.
9 Kitty // Sep 8, 2007 at 3:46 pm
Please say crap and period in the same sermon! That would totally make my year!!
10 Heath // Sep 8, 2007 at 7:52 pm
Well, if you’re gonna do what Kitty says, go for the “Pornography and Masturbation” speech too… might as well get it all on one comment card, right?
11 MikeS // Sep 8, 2007 at 10:12 pm
Nah, don’t say it all at once. Leave something for later on. A little shock and awe every once in a while never hurt anyone. . .did it?
12 wayne // Sep 9, 2007 at 8:11 am
period.
13 Heath // Sep 10, 2007 at 6:52 am
Wayne! I forgot that one! How could I forget period???
Leave a Comment